L'inventaire forestier multiressource : les variables critiques de l'habitat faunique

A multiresource forest inventory can be defined as a coherent group of methods used to collect the information required for integrated forest management. It represents a management tool that can provide a common data base to evaluate simultaneously wood production, wildlife habitat quality and sensitive ecological variables. The objective of this study was to develop a multiresource inventory adapted to the needs of wood and wildlife habitat supply analysis in Quebec's public forests. Special attention was given to identifying the additional variables needed in the present forest inventory to adequately evaluate wildlife habitat quality. Most of the critical habitat variables used in Habitat Suitability Indices Models for a large number of species are already integrated in Quebec's forest inventory. However, two critical habitat variables should be added : the shrub layer and snags. The former plays a major ecological role for the survival of most not hibernating herbivores such as snowshoe hare and moose. These species are major game species and the staple prey of many furbearers. The low shrub layer provides both browse and escape cover. Large diameter snags are a limiting factor of many species for nesting. Moreover, those two components are vulnerable to an intensification of forestry practices. In certain situations other variables could be added, notably vegetation physionomy and coarse wood debris.